Nina Mugavero holds her son, Gabriel, 2. Mugavero and her partner, Anita Davis formally adopted the toddler yesterday at the Union County County Courthouse in Elizabeth, one of several adoptions marking a celebration of November as National Adoption Month.John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger

Malanie, 4, (left) and her sister, Arianna, 7, were adopted by their aunt, Renae Sabolchick. John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger

ELIZABETH — Two years ago Nina Mugavero and her partner, Anita Davis opened their home to become foster parents to a new born baby boy.

Today, with one final appearance in Superior Court in Elizabeth, the West Orange couple's journey to become permanent parents came to a successful end with the formal adoption of their son, Gabriel Miles Mugavero.

"This is the best gift, the best birthday, best Christmas, everything," said a smiling Davis.

She and Mugavero were one of five families who stood before Superior Court judges to receive a legal stamp of approval for their respective adoptions in hearings at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The courthouse held a reception afterwards so the families could celebrate November's designation as National Adoption Month.

There are more than 600 children in foster care or group homes in Union County alone, and the number is rising, said Dominic Prophete of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Union County, a private non-profit agency aiding children. Prophete said the poor economy has resulted in fewer families willing to adopt.

"Our youth are always looking for a family. There is always a push for permanency," said Prophete, who helped coordinate today's ceremonies.

This month, dozens of children have been adopted in similar ceremonies at courthouses across New Jersey.

There is a story behind every adoption, and Gabriel was no exception. He had seven siblings by the same birth-mother, but all of them have given up for adoption.

"None of the (eight) children know each other," Davis said. She and Mugavero tried to adopt Gabriel's brother, who is 14 months older, but the state Office of Law Guardian recommended the brother go to another couple, Mugavero said.

After hearing that decision, the West Orange couple moved quickly to adopt Gabriel, fearing he would be taken away.

"We were afraid we were being discriminated against because we were a same-sex couple," said Mugavero as she held her smiling son. He held up his tiny hand to high-five everybody who walked nearby. Davis called the adoption "bittersweet" because they do not have the brother.

Renae Sabolchick of Browns Mills has two sons, ages 16 and 6, but today also became the mother of her nephew and two nieces.

For three years the children, Arianna, 7, and four-year-old twins Michael and Malanie -- who Sabolchick lovingly calls calls "double trouble" - have been living with their aunt and cousins. Sabolchick said her sister, the children's mother, had some problems.

After living together so long, Sabolchick, herself a single parent, decided to adopt.

"I just wanted to keep them together. You always hear stories about kids split apart," she said.

National Adoption Month started 18 years ago, sponsored by the Children's Bureau in the federal Department of Health and Human Services to highlight the need for adoptive parents and families. This year's theme was "Partnering for Permanency."

Chanella Bright of Elizabeth had been a foster mother to Lamont for more than four years.

Today, Bright, 48, adopted the now 8-year-old. She also has two sons, ages 26 and 18.

"Ever since high school I knew I wanted to adopt. I have family members who have adopted," Bright said.